Ronaldo Scores in Portugal's Nations League Win as Spain Sink Denmark

Cristiano Ronaldo (R) scored his 133rd international goal in Portugal's win over Poland. Sergei GAPON / AFP
Cristiano Ronaldo (R) scored his 133rd international goal in Portugal's win over Poland. Sergei GAPON / AFP
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Ronaldo Scores in Portugal's Nations League Win as Spain Sink Denmark

Cristiano Ronaldo (R) scored his 133rd international goal in Portugal's win over Poland. Sergei GAPON / AFP
Cristiano Ronaldo (R) scored his 133rd international goal in Portugal's win over Poland. Sergei GAPON / AFP

Cristiano Ronaldo scored as Portugal beat Poland 3-1 for their third straight Nations League win on Saturday, while European champions Spain put an end to Denmark's perfect start in the competition.
Bernardo Silva volleyed Portugal ahead in the 26th minute in Warsaw as Bruno Fernandes cleverly nodded a cross from Ruben Neves back towards the Manchester City midfielder, reported AFP.
Ronaldo then found himself in the right place at the right time to turn in the rebound for Portugal's second after Rafael Leao's shot came back off the post following a brilliant surging run by the AC Milan winger.
The 39-year-old Ronaldo has now struck in all three games of this Nations League campaign for Portugal, taking his record men's international goals tally to 133.
Piotr Zielinski cut the deficit for Poland but Jan Bednarek's own goal sealed victory for Portugal, the lone remaining team in League A with a 100 percent record, and they could secure a place in the quarter-finals next week.
"We worked very hard the last few days, preparing various solutions for this game, and we were able to show it on the pitch. I am really satisfied because we controlled this game," said Portugal coach Roberto Martinez.
"We played great as a team."
Portugal have a maximum nine points in Group A1, three ahead of Croatia who beat Scotland 2-1 to condemn their opponents to a third successive defeat in the section.
Ryan Christie's first half-goal gave Scotland a shock lead in Zagreb, but Igor Matanovic equalized before the interval and Andrej Kramaric bagged the winner midway through the second half.
Che Adams thought he had salvaged a stoppage-time equalizer but VAR disallowed his effort for offside, with Scotland winless in nine competitive outings -- the longest run in their history.
Zubimendi wins it for Spain
Spain needed a 79th-minute effort from Martin Zubimendi to shrug off Denmark 1-0 in Murcia as captain Alvaro Morata showed off the European Championship trophy to fans before kick-off.
The hosts were without Rodri and Dani Carvajal, both sidelined by long-term injuries, with first-choice goalkeeper Unai Simon still recovering from wrist surgery. Nico Williams, Dani Olmo and Robin Le Normand had also been ruled out.
But Luis de la Fuente's team grabbed the only goal when Zubimendi's low drive from just outside the area squirmed past Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, who had earlier denied Lamine Yamal and Alvaro Morata.
"I'm very happy with the goal, but above all in such a close game in which we had to open the scoring," said Real Sociedad midfielder Zubimendi.
"He doesn't score many but he's starting to so I hope he continues like this," said De la Fuente. "He's one of the best players in the world in his position."
Spain moved up to seven points, one above Denmark, with Serbia picking up their first win after beating Switzerland 2-0 in Leskovac.
Serbia led through Nico Elvedi's own goal in first-half stoppage time and Aleksandar Mitrovic doubled the advantage before Predrag Rajkovic saved a penalty from Swiss striker Breel Embolo.
Both games in Group C3 finished goalless as Bulgaria were held at home by Luxembourg and Northern Ireland drew against Belarus on neutral ground in Hungary.
Romania eased to a 3-0 win away to Cyprus in Group C2, while Kosovo beat Lithuania 2-1.



Britain to Test New Zealand Dominance in America's Cup Duel

Sailing - America's Cup - Louis Vuitton Cup - Final - Britain v Italy - Barcelona, Spain - September 26, 2024 INEOS Britannia in action during the race against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team REUTERS/Albert Gea/File Photo
Sailing - America's Cup - Louis Vuitton Cup - Final - Britain v Italy - Barcelona, Spain - September 26, 2024 INEOS Britannia in action during the race against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team REUTERS/Albert Gea/File Photo
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Britain to Test New Zealand Dominance in America's Cup Duel

Sailing - America's Cup - Louis Vuitton Cup - Final - Britain v Italy - Barcelona, Spain - September 26, 2024 INEOS Britannia in action during the race against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team REUTERS/Albert Gea/File Photo
Sailing - America's Cup - Louis Vuitton Cup - Final - Britain v Italy - Barcelona, Spain - September 26, 2024 INEOS Britannia in action during the race against Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Team REUTERS/Albert Gea/File Photo

Britain and holders New Zealand go head-to-head on Saturday in the opening two races of a first-to-seven series to determine the winner of the America's Cup, with Ben Ainslie's British team in the final for the first time in 60 years.

In the battle for the "Auld Mug", which was first raced in 1851 and is billed as the oldest trophy in international sport, the adage is that "the fastest boat wins", with the two high-tech AC75 foiling monohulls set to be put to the test.

The 37th America's Cup is being contested in the Mediterranean off the Spanish city of Barcelona, where variable winds and unstable sea states in the qualifying events have made sailing conditions challenging, according to Reuters.

"The good news is it looks as though we should have some breeze," Regatta Director Iain Murray said during a pre-race briefing on Saturday, adding: "I do have reasonable confidence that we are going to get some races in".

With low cloud hanging over Barcelona, Murray said that there would be some showers, which could affect the wind, which was forecast to "establish itself from about midday".

"Keep your fingers crossed and take a rain jacket," he said.

The duel pits British skipper Ainslie, the most successful Olympic sailor, and his younger co-helm Dylan Fletcher against the New Zealanders, who are skippered by double America's Cup winner Peter Burling and his co-helm Nathan Outteridge.

"The intrigue of the America's Cup is that you don't really know until you line up for the first start ... Two different looking boats, but probably going reasonably similar speeds and it will make for an awesome competition," Burling, 33, said during a pre-match press conference on Friday.

Ainslie's decade-long campaign to "bring the Cup home" has been backed by British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe and they have worked closely with the Mercedes Formula One team to come up with a race-winning package and end "173 years of hurt".

"We've got a very proud sporting and maritime heritage, and the America's Cup is the one thing that has always been missing from our trophy cabinet," the 47-year-old said as the silverware was presented in Barcelona, along with a traditional Maori haka.

Britain battled their way to challenge New Zealand by beating Italy 7-4 in the Louis Vuitton Cup, with Ainslie's team showing improved speed and handling through the qualifying races as they tweaked both their boat and sailing technique.

New Zealand have been practising alone and also making changes, with team boss Grant Dalton saying he expected the AC75s to be "pretty equal" in speed, meaning whichever gets off the start fastest has a greater chance of controlling the race.

This time the organisers have also included the first America's Cup for women, with Britain and Italy qualifying on Friday for the inaugural final, also scheduled for Saturday.

Murray said that the race committee were aiming to set races which would take around 27 minutes for the America's Cup and 17 to 18 minutes for the women's final.

Italy has already won the Youth America's Cup in the smaller AC40 boats that are being used for the women's event.